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Read the press release here.

'Defense of Sunday Brunch' Bill Heads to City Council

By Meredith Hoffman | June 13, 2012 12:47pm
Brunchers ate at Beans in Inwood. The city council's proposal would affect the whole city's sidewalk brunch law.
Brunchers ate at Beans in Inwood. The city council's proposal would affect the whole city's sidewalk brunch law.
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DNAinfo/Paul Lomax

WILLIAMSBURG — Brunchers may have a new reason to rejoice on Sundays — a higher power is standing up for open-air diners.

City Council members are introducing a bill that would allow eateries to serve on their sidewalk patios starting at 10 a.m. on Sundays — rather than the current ban before noon on what some consider the day of rest.

The current law, which has existed in New York City for over 40 years, was generally ignored — until the Williamsburg community board's public safety committee pushed the Department of Consumer Affairs to step up enforcement earlier this year. Recently, the popular restaurants Five Leaves and Lokal near McCarren Park claimed they've receive summonses for breaking the rule.

Now Council Member Dan Garodnick, Chair of the City Council's Committee on Consumer Affairs, is introducing the new legislation, along with Williamsburg Councilmember Stephen Levin and other local leaders.

“New Yorkers will not be denied their Sunday brunch in the beautiful weather,” Garodnick said in a statement.  “This regulation is outdated, widely disregarded, and hostile to business and brunch-loving New Yorkers.  It needs to change.”

And Levin, who has been pushing for a change, also said the reform was necessary.

“The law that exists now does not reflect the reality that folks eat brunch before noon on Sundays,” said Steve Levin.  “These businesses have sidewalk cafe permits.  They pay for those permits and should be allowed to serve their customers on beautiful Brooklyn mornings.  The fact is that people should eat when they are hungry."